WINTHROP, Mass. – Saint Joseph's (Maine) went on a tear in conference play this season, winning all but one conference game in the 2024-25 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) season as the Monks locked up the No. 1 seed in the upcoming GNAC Men's Basketball Championship Tournament with a victory over Dean.
SJC went 13-1 in conference play (21-4 overall) and are hoping to claim their first conference title since 2009 after falling short in last year's title game to USJ.
Earning the No. 2 seed in this year's bracket is Lasell, who put together a 12-2 GNAC (19-6 overall) season as the Lasers look to win the conference title for the first time since 2008.
The Monks and the Lasers will have to wait to learn their opening matchups as they draw the two winners of the GNAC Play-In Round, which is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24. The Play-In Round will feature No. 7 seed Dean (7-7 GNAC, 15-10 overall) hosting No. 10 seed Anna Maria (6-8 GNAC, 9-16 overall) and No. 8 seed Elms (6-8 GNAC, 6-19 overall) welcoming No. 9 seed Mitchell (6-8 GNAC, 14-11 overall).
The Tournament continues on Tuesday, Feb. 25 with the GNAC Quarterfinals. In addition to SJC and Lasell, reigning GNAC Champion University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) (12-2 GNAC, 18-7 overall) will look to defend their crown, starting with a home matchup against No. 6 seed Rivier (7-7 GNAC, 14-11 overall). Albertus Magnus sits at the fourth seed (11-3 GNAC, 15-10 overall) and will welcome No. 5 seed Norwich (8-6 GNAC, 17-8 overall).
The league's tiebreaking procedure was used to determine home court advantage for several matchups in this year's postseason tournament. Starting with the 2/3 seed tie-breaker which was determined as the Lasers defeated USJ earlier on in the week to earn that spot. Rivier and Dean tied with each other but a Raiders win last weekend gave Rivier the higher seed. Finally, the three-way tie for the eight-ten spots were all determined from head-to head matchups as the Blazers defeated both Mitchell and Anna Maria while the Mariners defeated the Amcats in a thrilling overtime victory to claim the tie-breaking advantage.
The four quarterfinal winners will earn the right to compete in the GNAC Semifinals, which are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27. They will be competing for the opportunity to play in the GNAC Championship on Saturday, Mar. 1. The winner of the GNAC Championship game will be named the 2025 GNAC Men's Basketball Champion and earn the league's automatic qualifier into the 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship.
2025 GNAC Men's Basketball Tournament Schedule
Play-In – Monday, Feb. 24
(Hosted by higher seeds)
#7 Dean vs. #10 Anna Maria, 5 p.m.
#8 Elms vs. #9 Mitchell, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 25
(Hosted by higher seeds)
#1 Saint Joseph's (Maine) vs. #8/9 Winner, 7:30 p.m.
#2 Lasell vs. #7/10 Winner, 7 p.m.
#3 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) vs. #6 Rivier 7 p.m.
#4 Albertus Magnus vs. #5 Norwich, 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 27
(Hosted by higher seeds)
Winner of Saint Joseph's (Maine) vs. 8/9 winner vs. #4/5 Winner, TBD
Winner of Lasell vs. 7/10 winner vs. #3/6 Winner, TBD
Championship – Saturday, Mar. 1
Semifinal winners, TBD
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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